Statement Signed Under Duress Kogen Agrees Not to Take Part in Any Anti-social Activities

Boris Kogen, a lawyer and Jewish activist in Moscow, has signed a statement–reputedly under duress–that he will not take part in any “anti-social activities, “Jewish sources said today. The statement read: “I have acted and shall act in full accordance with the Soviet Constitution.” Kogen was told he could get up to three years’ imprisonment for “Insubordination and infringement of traffic.”

He was taken to a police station by a militia sergeant who came to his home, and under the circumstances felt forced to sign, the sources said. They quoted Kogen as telling them later: “We hope that President Nixon’s visit will ease our situation, which is getting worse day by day.”

The sources also said that five other Jewish activists were taken from their homes and ordered to sign similar statements. Some complied, the sources indicated, but it was not Immediately known which ones. The activists are Viktor and Blaine Polsky, Roman Rutman, Illya Kornfeld and Prof. Aleksander Lerner. Two other activists were not at home when the militiamen arrived.

The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.